Homily Two for the Sunday After Theophany (St. John of Kronstadt)

From the Church of St. Spyridon in Flampouriari, 17th cent.

Homily Two for the Sunday After Theophany
(or Sunday After Illumination)

St. John of Kronstadt

Today’s Sunday is called the Sunday after Illumination, or the day of the week on which one should not occupy oneself with ordinary worldly, earthly affairs, but should do the works that bring salvation to one’s soul — after Illumination, that is, after Baptism, which both formerly and now has been called and is called Illumination, because through Baptism spiritual light is bestowed by God upon our souls, the light of the knowledge of God and of piety. A sign of this even to this day is the lamps or wax candles lit at the baptismal font, as well as the lighted candles held in the hands of the sponsor and the sponsoress. This spiritual light — incorruptible and eternal, communicated to our souls — is Christ our God Himself, the true Light, who enlightens every person coming into the world. Spiritual darkness, however, is sin, or the author and ruler of sin, the prince of darkness, the devil, who darkens and deceives the human race by sin, teaching every sin and drawing man into eternal perdition.

Homily for the Sunday After the Baptism of the Lord (St. Cleopa of Sihastria)

Homily for the Sunday After the Baptism of the Lord

(On the Preaching of the Word of God)

By Saint Cleopa of Sihastria

“From that time Jesus began to preach and to say: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

Beloved faithful,

One of the teachings of today’s Holy Gospel says: “From that time Jesus began to preach and to say: Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). The same words were spoken by Saint John the Baptist when he began to preach in the wilderness of the Jordan: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2). The same message was also given to the Holy Apostles when they were sent to preach the gospel, for He said to them: “As you go, preach, saying: The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” (Matthew 10:7).

Today’s divine Gospel says: “From that time Jesus began to preach…” (Matthew 4:17). But what does “from that time” mean? It means from the time when the holy and great Prophet John the Baptist was arrested and thrown into prison. This truth is shown by today’s Holy Gospel, which says: “Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee” (Matthew 4:12). But did the Savior depart to Galilee out of fear? By no means. Rather, He went to Galilee in order to begin preaching the gospel from there, according to the prophecy of the Prophet Isaiah, who says: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:1; Matthew 4:15–16).

Prologue in Sermons: January 11

The Lord is Especially Merciful to Merciful People

January 11

(From the Life of Venerable Theodosios)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

Both the word of God and the Holy Fathers teach us to remember that God is especially merciful to merciful people. "He who gives to the poor," says Solomon, "will not lack" (Proverbs 28:27). "He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully," teaches the Holy Apostle Paul (2 Cor. 9:6). "What you have given to the hungry, you will receive back in abundance," adds Saint Basil the Great ("On the Rich"). All this, brethren, is completely true; for the truth of what both the word of God and the Holy Fathers say regarding God's special mercies to the merciful can be demonstrated by deeds themselves. And today, for your edification, we will demonstrate it by deeds.

Venerable Theodosios, abbot of the Monastery of the Theotokos near Jerusalem, was, as the author of his life tells us, an eye for the blind, a guide for the lame, a shelter for the defenseless, and clothing for the naked. He visited the sick, providing clothing for some who came to him, feeding others, and addressing the needs of still others. It should be noted that he established the custom of feeding a hundred people daily at the monastery. 

The Mystagogy Resource Center Now Has a Bookstore

Dear Readers:

As some of you may have noticed, yesterday, January 7th, on the feast the Synaxis of Saint John the Baptist, my patron saint and in honor of my Name Day, I launched a bookstore to serve the needs of the Mystagogy Resource Center. I called it Apollos Bookstore after one of the Seventy Apostles, Saint Apollos, whose ministry is explained in Acts 18:24-28. 

In Acts 18 we read how Apollos was an Alexandrian Jew who was "an eloquent man and mighty in the Scriptures." We also read that he "had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord." What connects Apollos with John the Baptist is that we are informed how when Aquila and Priscilla heard him preaching to the Jews in Ephesus, he had only up until that time known about the baptism of John the Baptist, which was a baptism of repentance, which means that he had not yet known of the baptism of the Holy Spirit through Jesus. After being instructed by Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos went to Corinth, and having received the Holy Spirit, "he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ." When the Apostle Paul afterwards arrived in Ephesus, he found there twelve Jews who had been baptized by Apollos with the baptism of John the Baptist, and had never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Paul therefore instructed them and baptized them in the name of Jesus so that they could receive the Holy Spirit through Paul laying his hands on them.

I named the bookstore after Apollos and placed his icon as its logo because he is a model for any Orthodox Christian ministry and a model for each individual Orthodox Christian striving to educate themselves and others into the unfathomable depths and mysteries of the gospel.

Initially my goal is to publish a new unique booklet on a monthly or bi-monthly basis, and eventually I will be publishing books. Every booklet will be priced at $20 which will cover all expenses and help support the work of the Mystagogy Resource Center. My hope is that these will be an added incentive to support my work.

You can view the new bookstore by clicking on one of the banners on this site or at this link. For now I only have three booklets which I previously offered. You can purchase through Paypal, Venmo or any other major credit card. The covers of the books currently on display are temporary and will be replaced with the right covers soon.

Thank you for all your support and a Blessed New Year to all,

John Sanidopoulos

  

 

Saint Gregory of Nyssa in the Hymnography of the Orthodox Church

By Fr. George Dorbarakis

Saint Gregory was the brother of Basil the Great, illustrious in speech and a zealot for the Orthodox faith. For this reason he also became a leader of the Church of Christ. And when he came together with those who composed the Second Ecumenical Synod in Constantinople (381 AD), who opposed the impious heresies, he was found to be a champion of the Fathers, routing the heretics by the power of his words and by the proofs he brought forth from the Holy Scriptures. For he prevailed, employing every form of rational argument and flourishing in virtue. He reached a ripe old age and departed to the Lord. In bodily appearance he was almost like his brother Basil.

Saint Gregory of Nyssa belongs to the great company of the Fathers and Teachers of our Church, together with his brother Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. His greatness was manifested especially at the Second Ecumenical Synod, “at which he became the principal exponent of Cappadocian Trinitarian and Pneumatological theology and was recognized as a great theological figure” (Stylianos Papadopoulos). It is not accidental that the Seventh Ecumenical Synod, (787 AD) characterized him as the “Father of Fathers.”

Homily for the Commemoration of Saint Theophan the Recluse (Fr. Daniel Sysoev)

Homily for the Commemoration of Saint Theophan the Recluse

By Fr. Daniel Sysoev

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Happy commemoration day of Saint Theophan the Recluse! Saint Theophan the Recluse lived in Russia in the 19th century and was a champion of ancient Orthodox traditions and teachings, which he translated into Russian. Renowned as a great interpreter of Holy Scripture, Theophan went into seclusion to study, live, and learn from God's teachings. His works are a priceless gift to us all. Priests often recommend reading Saint Theophan and Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov to those entering the Church. Saint Theophan possessed a special gift, enabling him to reveal the mysteries of faith with simplicity and depth. In his writings, he answers any question, even the most complex, such as those about extraterrestrials. Theophan was not afraid of questions and could provide exhaustive answers, drawing on Holy Scripture.

Nowadays, many people say that the dignity of a Christian is not to think and to be stupid. This is the exact opposite of what the Lord Himself taught and what the apostles said. Stupidity is the sign of an atheist, who is, by definition, stupid. And he is stupid because logic does not work for him, the thought process does not work, and he often simply tries to shut up his opponent. A Christian must be wise; he must develop his mind. Developing it can be done in different ways. There is the method of "piggy bank," which is very popular now: we throw absolutely everything into our minds. We can read a book or watch a movie, because everyone reads a book or everyone watches a movie. But simply accumulating information does not develop the mind. There was the great pagan philosopher Heraclitus, one of the founders of Ionian philosophy in Ancient Greece. He said this: "Much knowledge does not teach intelligence, and if it did, it would have taught Pythagoras." He despised Pythagoras extremely, since Pythagoras believed in the transmigration of souls, and Heraclitus did not consider him worthy of the title of man.

Homily on the Day of Theophany (Righteous Alexei Mechev)

Homily on the Day of Theophany

By Righteous Alexei Mechev

(Delivered on January 6, 1915)*

Let us, dear ones, transport ourselves in thought to that sacred place where the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ took place. And behold, before our gaze there appears a profoundly instructive, wondrous scene, full of divine majesty — the event at the Jordan. When Jesus Christ had reached the age of thirty, He came to the Jordan, where John was baptizing the people, and said that He too had come to be baptized. God revealed to John who it was that had come to him, and he cried out: “I need to be baptized by You” (Matt. 3:14). But Jesus answered: “Do not hinder Me, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill the will of God.” At these words He went down into the water, and when He was immersed, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove, and there was heard: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).

Prologue in Sermons: January 10

In Support of the Shelter for Destitute Girls

January 10

(A Discourse from the Life of Saint Markianos, How He Took Off his Garment and Gave It To a Poor Man)

By Archpriest Victor Guryev

One of the works of bodily mercy is to clothe the naked, or those who lack what is necessary and proper clothing. How precious this good deed is in the eyes of God is evident already from this alone: the Lord refers it to Himself, and at the Last Judgment He will say to those who clothed the naked, “I was naked and you clothed Me” (Matt. 25:36), and He will call them into His Kingdom with the words: “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 25:34). But even apart from this it is clear that this is especially pleasing to God, because even in this life He sometimes wondrously glorifies merciful people who do not spare, for the poor, clothing necessary for themselves, as though as a pledge of the future reward promised by Him in the kingdom of glory.

January: Day 9: Teaching 2: Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow

 

January: Day 9: Teaching 2:
Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow
 
(Cherish the Truth)

By Archpriest Grigory Dyachenko

I. Saint Philip, Metropolitan of Moscow, whose memory we celebrate today, came from the noble boyar family of the Kolychevs. He was born in Moscow in 1507 and in the world bore the name Theodore. His parents were distinguished by piety and compassion for the unfortunate; these good qualities they succeeded in instilling in their son, who even in his youth was marked by a religious disposition of soul. At first Theodore lived at the court of the Grand Prince Vasily Ivanovich, but after his death, in his thirtieth year of life, he resolved to leave the world and secretly, in simple peasant clothing, departed from Moscow for the Solovetsky Monastery. For a year and a half Theodore carried out various heavy obediences in the monastery: he chopped wood, dug the garden soil, worked at the mill and at fishing. Tonsured with the name Philip, nine years after entering the monastery he was unanimously elected by all the monks to be abbot.